Foldable partition



March 22, 1960 E. R. HAWS 2,929,445

FOLDABLE PARTITION Filed April 4, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet l E E INVENTOR-March 22, 1960 E R ws FOLDABLE PARTITION 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4,1956 INVENTOR. 5 /77653 W u umliu IL 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 I |V| 5 l 7 3 g7%? d7 v MW.

E. R. HAWS ///r KIA [I March 22, 1960 Filed April 4, 1956 March 22, 1960E. R. HAWS 2,929,445

FOLDABLE PARTITION 4 Filed April 4, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 4,6'- I 72. meL W Q INVENTOR. /A5 0 L L79 27/76.? 73/7414;

March 22, 1960 E. R. HAWS 2, 2 ,4 5

FOLDABLE PARTITION Filed April 4, 1956 8 $heets-$heet '6 IN V EN TOR.

E t l g 2 0765 2?. Haws.

March 22, 1960 E. R. HAWS 2,929,445

FOLDABLE PARTITION Filed April 4, 1956 8. Sheets-Sheet 7 7,5.. .ITILEJZE4:.

INVENTOR. 3/7765? 7?. Haws,

/74 BY a g M HTTlF/YEX FOLDABLE PARTITION Ernest R. Haws, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 4, 1956, Serial No. 576,157

17 Claims. (Cl. 160-32) This invention relates to foldable partitions orroom dividers and more particularly to a foldable partition constructionand arrangement embodying fully automatic operation in the folding andunfolding of the partition panels.

It is frequently desirable to be able to temporarily partition largeauditoriums and gymnasiums or the like into sections so that severalgroups of persons may utilize the space to carry on varied activitieswithout interference. The ideal foldable partition for temporarilypartitioning a large room would be a room divider having characteristicsapproaching the rigidity and soundproof qualities of a permanent wall.tion must be comprised of light weight panels easily and efiicientlymovable into and out of room dividing position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedpartition having the desiredcharacteristics of rigidity andsoundproofness. I It is a further object to provide improved means formoving the partition panel in a desired sequence of movements, that is,to cause the partition panels to be folded or unfolded as desired and inproper sequence therewith to cause thepanels to be bodily raised orlowered relative to the room floor, the raising of the panels from thefioor affecting the ease of their movement across the room and thelowering of the panels into contact with the floor affecting thestability, rigidity and soundproof qualities thereof when the partitionis in room dividing position.

The improved partition structure embodying the present inventioncomprises rigid panel members hinged to each other along their adjacentvertical edges, at least alternate panel members being swivellysupported at their upper ends from an overhead supporting means, thelatter including track means for guiding the partition during itsfolding and unfolding movements. Also, included is the provision ofmeans for automatically moving the panel into extended position, saidpanels after reaching extended position being subject to actuation by asecond means adapted tolower the panels into tight sealing contact withthe floor of the room being divided. In the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention, the drive guide rail.

2,929,445 Patented Mar. 22, 1960 2 guided into straight extendedposition by an overhead The present invention also includes an improveddevice for breaking the panels when the panels are intended to be movedfrom extended to folded condition, it being necessary to provide a meansfor forceably swinging the first panel to be folded to start the properfolding sequence of all of the panels as the parti- Yet, such a partimechanism for moving the panels from a folded to an extended conditionand then backto a folded condition comprises, preferably, a cable drivenby electrically motivated cable drive means, said cable drive meanshaving an improved construction and arrangement whereby the ,cable isgripped tighter should the resistance of the partition panel to movementincrease for any reason, ,thus ensuring positive driving action underthe most adverse conditions. I

The mechanism for bodily moving the panels downwardly after they havebeen extended into their room dividing position comprises preferably, ahydraulically actuated means. The present invention also includesimproved means for straightening and locking the last few panels inextended position, the leadingpanels being tion is moved from itsextended condition to a folded condition. The present invention furtherincludes the provision of means for manually disconnecting the partitionfrom the drive mechanism thus providing a safety device permittingmanual movement of the panels in the event of a power failure, thedisconnection from the drive mechanism permitting the panels to befreely movable without requiring the exertion of force to otherwiseovercome the frictional drag of the drive mechanism.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willappear from the following description and appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification wherein like reference characters designate correspondingparts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable partitionconstructed inaccordance with the present invention and showing the partitionpartially extended.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical plan view illustrating the arrangement of thepartition operating motors, the latter being adapted to be located inceiling pockets, which would be located at the upper right hand cornerof Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the driving mechanism for extendingand retracting the partition and includes details of constructionshowing'how the panel members may be supported for movement along theoverhead track means.

Fig. 4 is a view in part sectional taken substantiallythrough. line 4-4of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially through line 55 of Fig. 4looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a vfragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on a plane justbelow the level of the top of the panels shown in Fig. 1, the viewillustrating the relationship of the ends of the partition to thestarting and sealing jambs.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken transverselythrough the hood jamb.

Fig. 8 is a view in part sectional taken substantially through line 88of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows. r p I Fig. 9 is a-view taken substantially through line 9-9 of Fig. 8 looking in thedirection of the arrows. V

Fig. 10 is an end view of the lead panel shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the mechanism for auto maticallyoperating the hood jambs.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the mechanism for autc maticallyoperating the side jamb.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a front elevation of a means forimparting initial movement tothe inner end panel upon folding operation of the partition. 1

Fig. 16 is a view taken substantially through line 16-16 of Fig. 15looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary top elevation of a mechanism for controllingthe swinging movement of an end panel.

Fig. 18 is a view showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 17 in a secondposition.

Fig. 19 is a side elevation of Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a mechanism forautomatically operating the floor seal associated with the bottom ofeach panel.

Fig. 21 is a view in part sectional taken substantially through line21-21 of Fig. 20 looking in the direction of the arrows. V

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken substantially through line 2222 ofFig. 20 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary view in part similar to Fig. 20 illustrating asecond means of operating the floor seal.

Fig. 24 is a view taken substantially through line 24- 24 'of Fig. 23looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 25 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system utilized in thepresent embodiment for forcing the panels downwardly after the latterhave reached their extended or room dividing position.

Fig. 26 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry of thepresent invention.

, Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangementof parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention iscapable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Alsoit is to be understood that the phaseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 7

- Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a foldable partition generallydesignated 20. The. partition 20 comprises a series of panels 21hingedly connected to each other by vertically spaced concealed typehinges (not shown).

The lead panel 21a and at least each alternate panel thereafter, such asthe panels designated 21c and-21c, are swivelly suspended for swingingmovement about a vertical axis from an overhead guideway structureextending substantially from wall to wall along the line of division ofthe space to be partitioned. It will be understood that the last panel21 is also swivelly suspended. The panels intermediate the swivellysuspended panels, such as the panels 21b and 21d, are supported andguided by virtue of their hinged connection to the panels 210, 21c and21c, and so on; Preferably, each panel 21 is a hollow shell structureseveral inches thick having sound retarding and heat insulating aluminumfacings 22 pressure mounted on a phenolic impregnated heavy fiberhoneycomb core 23. Such a panel is relatively lightweight while beingsuificiently rigid to withstand much abuse, such as being crashed intoby persons engaged in athletic endeavors when the partition is used ingymnasium installations. Further, such a panel is impervious toexpansion, shrinkage or warpage due to variations in seasonal moisturecontent of the air. As will be noted, the core is suitably hollowed outas required to provide passageways and cavities to receive hydrauliccylinders, tubing, control cable and the like. i

' The overhead guidewayand supporting structure comprises an invertedsubstantially U-shaped track 24 having inturned lip portions 25 formingthe surfaces on which the rollers 26 of panel carrying carriage devices27 are adapted to roll. ried' by a series of spaced supporting brackets28 which in turn are suspended from hangar bolts 29 carried by anoverhead truss 30. The overhead truss 30 is supported by the buildingwalls.

1 Each carriage device 27 comprises a body member 31 having the rollers26, of which there are four, journalled at the corners in any convenientmanner. Each body member 31 has journalled therein a verticallyextending rod or stem 32. The rod or stem 32 projects downwardly betweenthe track lip portion 25 to a point below the track 24. Substantially atthe longitudinal center thereof those panels, such as the panels 21a andthe alternate panels thereafter, which are adapted to besupported TheU-shaped track 25 is car:

by a carriage device 27 are provided with a cavity 33 adapted to receivea hydraulic cylinder assembly '34. The hydraulic cylinder assembly 34comprises a cylinder 35 adapted to be connected at its lower end 36 to asource of fluid under pressure. The cylinder piston rod 37 carries apiston 38 at its lower end and is coupled at its upper exposed end by asuitable coupling device 39 to the lower end of the rod or stem 32.Surrounding the piston rod 37 is a compression spring 40 having oneendbearing on top of the piston 38 and the other end bearing against theunderside of the upper cylinder head 41. In eflFect, the foregoingconstruction provides a fixed piston and movable cylinder arrangement.The compression spring 40' supports all of the weight of the panel 21 onthe piston and piston rod assembly, the latter being supported by thecarriage device 27. The introduction of fluid under pressure to thelower end 36 of the cylinder results in the cylinder 35 and the panel 21being forced downwardly relative to the piston thereby placing the,spring 49 under compression. Upon release of the fluid pressure, thespring 40 will raise the cylinder 35 and the panel 21 attached theretoupwardly to their normal inoperative position. The manner in which theup and down movement of the panels 21 fits into the sequence ofoperations of the present construction and arrangement will behereinafter more fully explained.

The present invention embodies an improved drive mechanism for movingthe partition 20 from folded to extended and then back to foldedcondition, as desired. In this preferred form, the drive mechanism,generally designated 42, utilizes a cable 43, although a chain drive maybe utilized if desired.

Although the cable'43 could be fastened directly to 7 any one of thecarriage devices 27, particularlythe carriage device 27 carrying thelead panel 21a, an important. advantage, as Willfbe explained, may bederived by attaching the cable 43 to a separate lead trolley, generallydesignated 44. The lead trolley 44 comprises a body member or platform45 suspended belowthe track 24- from hanger bolts 29 carried by shafthousing members .46 in which the lead trolley rollers 2e are journalledin any suitable manner. As best seen in'Fig. 3, the body member orplatform 45 is provided with an upstanding post 47 to which the cableends 43:: and 43b are clamped in any convenient manner.

The platform 45 has secured to its underside a rear wardly extendingextension piece 48 which, as is best shown in Fig. 8, is provided with alatch device pivotally mounted thereon. The latch devicecomprises alatch plate 49' swingable in a horizontal plane and having a hookportion 50 thereon. The hook portion 50 is adapted to encircle thecoupling device 3? joining the piston rod 37 and the stem or rod 32,thus coupling the lead trolley 44 to the lead panel supporting carriagedevice 27. To .uncouple the lead trolley 44 from the immediatelyfollowing trolley or carriage device 27, it is only necessary to pivotthe latch plate 49 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotaxis51 to move its hook portion 50 out of engagement with the couplingdevice 39. The latch plate 49 is pivotally actuable by a remote controlcable operated mechanism. Referring to Fig. 10, there is'shown mountedon each side ofthe lead panel 21a a pivoted hand grip member 52 having abell crank lever 53 extending inwardly of the panel. There are two handgrip members 52 accessible from opposite sides of the panel 21a. Acommon cable 54 extends from the levers 53 up and over a pulley 55suitably mounted at the upper corner of the panel 21a to a' triggermember so mounted on the interior of the panel 21a wall; As best seen inFig. 9, the trigger member 56 underlies an arm 57 on the latch platemember 49. If one of the hand grip members 52' is grasped and pulled,upwardly so as to swing a bell crank lever 53 downwardly about its pivotaxis, the cable 54 will raise the trigger member 56 in acounterclockwise direction about its pivot axis 58. The'upper edge ofthe trigger member 56 will abut the side edge of the arm 57 of the latchplate 49 causing the latch plate to be pivoted in a counter-clockwisedirection about its pivot axis 51. A spring means 59 is provided torestore the trigger member to its normal inoperative position afteractuation. The latch plate will remain in open position until the leadtrolley 44 and the lead panel supporting carriage device 27 are broughtback into their normal operative relationship. That is, upon thecoupling device 39 abutting the inclined edge of the latch plate armportion 60, the latch plate 49 will be swung in a clockwise direction soas to cause its hook portion 50 to again hook over the coupling device39.

A function of the foregoing structure is to provide an emergency meansfor releasing the panels 21 from the drive mechanism 42. It will bereadily understood that in the event of a power failure, such as mightresult from a fire within the building, it would be highly desirable tobe able to move the panels 21 manually. Without the provision of meansfor releasing the panels from the drive mechanism, the frictional dragof the latter would make manual movement of the panels extremelydiflicult.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and4 and starting with the end 43a of the drivemechanism cable 43, it will be noticed that the cable 43 passes over apulley 61 mounted on a bracket 62 located substantially at the head endof the guide track 24. The cable 43 then extends completely across theroom to a pulley 63 mounted on a bracket 64 secured to a structuralmember 65 of the building. 63 is a vertical axis to permit the cable tochange 'direction and to extend in a substantially horizontal planetowards the cable drive mechanism 42, as best seen in Fig. 4. It will benoted that the cable 43 interwinds about the peripheries of three gears,one of which, the gear 66, is power driven. The power driven gear 66 iskeyed to a shaft 67 of a speed reduction unit 68 powered by an electricmotor 69. Two vertically spaced idler gears 79 mounted in a cage 71 andthe gear 66 in mesh with the idler gears 70 comprise the threegears-about which the cable 43 winds. It will be noted that the cable 43is interwound between the gears 66 and7i) so that it passes around thetop of gear 79, then between the top gear 70 and the driven gear 66,then around the gear 66, then between the gear 66 and the bottom gear70, and then around the bottom gear 70 and off the underside thereof toa pulley 72 mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on the buildingstructural member 65. From the pulley 72 the cable passes downwardlyaround a second pulley 73 vertically spaced below the pulley 72 and thenback up over a pulley 74 mounted on a bracket 75 secured to thestructural member 65 of the building. The cable 43 then follows asubstantially horizontal path to the point at which its end 43b issecured to the post 47 carried by the lead trolley 44.

Fig. illustrates in cross-section the manner in which the cable 43 windsabout the gears 66 and 70 without interfering with the gear teeth. Itwill be noted that the gears are provided with centrally located andperipherally extending slots 76. The diameter of the cable 43 isslightly larger than the depths of the slots 76 and, accordingly, thecable is slightly squeezed between the meshing gears, the teeth 77 ofthe gears being in mesh on each side of the cable 43. As has beenstated, the gears 70 are idler gears. carried by a cage 71, suitableshaft means 78 being provided for journalling the two gears 70 in thecage 71. The cage 71 is a floating unit. The cage 71 is supported onlyby the meshing relationship of the two idler gears 70 with the powerdriven gear 66. As the cable 43 is placed in tension it will tend topull the cage 71 toward the power driven gear 66, thus increasing thetightness of the mesh of the teeth of the/power driven gear 66 with theteeth of the idler gears 70 and at the same time increasing the grip ofIt will be noted that the axis of the pulley the gear bodies on thecable 43. To prevent the cage 71 from rolling right around the powerdriven gear 66, a couple of torsion bars 79 and 80 are provided. Atorsion bar 79 is secured to the base of the speed reduction unit 68 inany convenient manner and projects into the space between the side walls81 of the cage unit 71 where it overlies a bolt head 82. The torsion bar80 is secured in any convenient manner to the bracket 64 holding theupper pulley 63 and extends also into the space between the side walls81 of the cage unit where it underlies a bolt head 83. The co-action between the torsion bars 79 and 80 and their respective co-acting boltheads 82 and 83 is such that the cage unit can only move in asubstantially horizontal direction inwardly and outwardly as the tensionof the cable 43 is increased or decreased. Thus, even if the tension onone side of the cable 43 should be momentarily greater than the tensionon the other side, the torsion bars will not permit the cage unit 71 toroll around the power driven gear 66.

The pulley 73 is mounted on a yoke member 84 carried on a head end of anadjusting stud or bolt 85. The adjusting stud projects through a bracketmember 86 mounted on the building structural member 65. Interposedbetween nut means 87 carried on the lower end of the adjusting stud 8Sand the flange portion 88 of the bracket member 86 is a compressionspring 89. By placing the compression spring 89 under a pre-load, a

desired tension may be maintained on the cable 43.

Should the cable 43 eventually stretch, it would only be necessary toturn the nut means 87 to increase the compression on the spring 89thereby taking up the slack in the cable 43, the spring pushing theadjusting bolt further downward.

It will be understood that the overhead track 24 may be concealed withinthe ornamental ceiling of the room to be partitioned.

Referring now to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, there are shown a couple of'spacedstrips of material or rails 90 which extend below the ornamental ceilingof the room and which provide a guide way 91 for the upper ends of thepanels 21. As shown in Fig. 2, the rail 90 toward the front extendscloser to the side wall 81 of the building than the rail 90 to the real.It will be understood that Fig. 2 does not represent a true scalepicture of the relationship of the two ends of the rails 90. Upon thepartition drive mechanism 42 being actuated to move the panels fromfolded to extended position, the lead panel 21a will start to movesubstantially broad side to the direction in which it should move togive the desired partitioning effect. However, since the front rail 90will abut the panel 21a at a point off center from the panel center ofsuspension it will cause the panel to start to swing in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. As shown inFig. 2, the rail 90 may be provided with a rounded contact edge 92 toavoid the strip gouging into the upper surface of the panel and thepanel may be provided with a wear strip (not shown) along its upperedge. The rear rail 90 having its end 93 further away from the righthand wall 81 of the room will permit the panel 21a to swing about itscenter of suspension until it is substantially parallel and between therails 90, after which the panel will continue its movement in thedesired direction. As the panel 21a is pulled across the room it willguide the following panels properly into the guide way or slot betweenthe rails. It will be noted that neither of the two ,rails 90 extendscompletely to the right hand wall 81 of the room.- As shown in Figs; 1and 2, it is obvious that the guide rails 90 cannot extend completely tothe wall 81 since room must be provided for the folding and theunfolding section of the panels 21. Accordingly, the present inventionembodies improved automatic hood folding and unfolding means as well asimproved automatic jamb folding and unfolding means.

l The hood structure 94 comprises those strips. of material 95. whichform, an extension of the guide rails 90 extending along the. ceiling ofthe room. The jamb structure 96 includes a vertically extending panel 97which is located at the extreme right end of the partition as viewed inFig. l. The hood and jamb mechanisms embodying the present, inventioncomprise cable mechanism 98 operatedfrom a common hydraulic cylinder 99,these structures being shown in detail in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive.

Referring first to Figs. 11 and 12 which illustrates the hood operatingmechanism, it will be noted that the hood structure 94- 'comprisesstrips of material 95 secured to the brackets 28 which support theU-shaped track 24. Hinged to each strip 95 on each side of the track isa flap 100. The hingepivot comprises a longitudinally extending shaft101 carrying a pulley 1192 at the inner or wall 81 end thereof. Theflaps 1% are secured to the shaft 101 so that when the shafts arerotated the flaps will swing. In Fig. 12 the flaps are shown in their upposition which corresponds to the position in which they are shown inFig. 1.. in the illustrated embodiment, the flaps 109 are adapted to bepulled downby hydraulic power means and are adapted to be restoredtotheir up position, as shown in Fig; 11, by spring power'means. Thereason for this is that the hood flaps 1% are utilized in straighteningout the last several panels of the partition after the same have beenextended completely acrosstheroom, as will be more fully explained. Forhydraulically actuating and lowering the hood flaps,.the hydrauliccylinder 99 having an upwardly extending piston rod 1113. is provided.The hydraulic cylinder 99 is supported at its lower-end by an adjustingscrew 1% which passes through a mounting bracket 1115 secured to abuilding structural member 65. The hydraulic cylinder $9 is held inupright position by the tension on a cable 1% through which movement ofthe piston rod 103 is transmitted to the pulleys 1112 mounted on thehood shafts 161. The cable106 follows a rather devious path mainly toreduce the distance that the piston rod 1113 has to travelto get thedesired rotation of the pulleys mounted on the hood shafts. It will benoted that the cable 106'is not a con tinuous cable, the two ends 1 37and 103 respectively thereof being fastened to a bracket 1tl9 mounted onthe building structural member 65.

. Referring to Fig. 12 and starting with the left end 107 of the cable106 it will be noted that'the cable passes downwardly around theunderside of a pulley 110, then upwardly to the inner side of the righthood shaft pulley 1tl2and aroundthis latter pulley. To insure that thecable 106 will not slip relative to this pulley 102, the cable isfastened at 111 to the periphery of the pulley. After almost completelyencircling the pulley 102 the cable 106 passes off the underside thereofand laterally of the track 24 to an idler pulleyr112 mounted on thebracket 65. The cable 106 then drops down to a pulley wardly relative tothe bracket 123 will increase or tie-- crease the tension on the springs120 which in turn will effect the tention or the degree of slackness inthe cable 106.

In operation, as the piston rod 103 is pulled. downwardly due to. theapplication of fluid under pressure to the hydraulic: cylinder 99 theportions of the cable passing around the pulleys 119 and 116 will bepulled upwardly. The tension in the cable 106 will be transmittedthroughthe cable 106 to the springs 129 which will be stretched permitting thepulleys 110 and 116 to rise permitting the cable portions to move.Because of the manner in which the cable portions are wound around thepulleys 102,1 the pulley 102 mounted on the left hand hood hinge shaft101 will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction swinging the left flapdownwardly and the pulley 102 mounted on the right hand hood hinge shaft101 will rotate in a clockwise direction swinging the right flap 100. onthis shaft downwardly. Upon the hydraulic pressure being released thestored up energy in the springs 120. will cause the pulleys and 116' tobe pulled downwardly and this motion will be transmitted through thecable 106 to the piston mounted pulley 113 which" will be raisedupwardly. The hood flaps 100 will then Z fly upwardly.

As in. the. case of the hood flaps 100, the vertically 7 extending jambflap 97, of which. there is only one, is moved to a closed position bythe application of hydraulic force andv is spring urged toward its openposition. The same hydraulic cylinder 99 used to actuatev the hoodflaps- 100 is. also used to actuate the jamb flap 97. It will be, notedthat the carrier 114 connected to the end of the piston rod has mountedtherein a second pulley 124. located above the first pulley 113 whichwas part of the cable and pulley system operating the hood jamb. Thecable and. pulley system involvedin operating the jamb flap 97 is muchsimpler than. that used in operating the hood flaps 10%). The jamb flapcable and pulley mechanism involves use of two separate cables and 126,respectively. The cable 125 is connected at its one end 127 to the jambflap. d7 near the bottom thereof and" extends from thisconnection aroundan idler pulley 128 mounted on a bracket 129 located near the bottom ofthe building structural member 65-. The cable 125 then passes upwardlyto an idler pulley mounted on a bracke'tt131 secured to the buildingstructural member 65 p and passes over the pulley' 130' downwardlyaround the 113 carried by a pulley carrier 114secured to the upperendfof the piston rod 103. From this pulley 113.the cable 1116 passes upto and around a second idler pulley 115' paralleling the first idlerpulley 112 and then over to the second or left hood shaft pulley 102.Here again the cable 1% is secured to the periphery of this pulley toprevent any possibility of the cable slipping relative to the pulley.The cable 1136 then passes downwardly through a pulley .116 parallelingthe pulley 110 and then backup totwh ere the other end 1118 is securedto the bracket 109. The two pulleys 110 and 116 are mounted in a carrier117 which is attached to a vertical member lis'connecting the pulleycarrier 11? to a plate 119 illustrated as having two tension springs 12%depending therepulley 124 carried by the carrier 114 connected to thepiston rod 1133. The cable 125 then passes upwardly over an idler pulley132 mounted in parallel relation to the 1 idler pulley 131 and thendownwardly to a toggle bolt 133. The second cable 1-26 is connected at134 to the jamb flap 97 near the'upper end thereof and passes from itspoint of connection over a pulley 135 located sub stantially verticallyabove the pulley 123 over which the" 126 is also connected to the upperend of the toggle bolt 14%. The cable 125 and the cable 126 could be onepiecedivided into two efiective sections which are related.

on'eac'h side of a common toggle'bolt. Each toggle bolt 133' and isconnected to. a tension spring 141 secured to-the building structureelement. It will be readily apw parent that each toggle bolt 133 and 149may'be ad,

justedto'increase or'decrease the tension on the tension spring 141therebyincreasing or decreasing the tension. in the cablesystem.

The jamb flap 97 is urged in its open direction by two coil springs 142which, as shown in Fig.' 13, lie-- across the hingeline'of the jambflap. When the jamb flap 97 is pulled to a closed position by hydraulicactuation the two springs 141 are folded over at the hinge line andsince they have a tendency to exert a force which would cause them tostraighten up they are always urging the jamb flap 97 in its open oroutward direction. Thus, as soon as the pressure is released in thehydraulic cylinder 99 the springs 141 will exert tension through thejamb flap 97 on the cables 125 and 126 causing the piston rod 103 to bepulled back up. The mechanism is then ready for actuation the next timeit is desired to close the jamb flap 97.

Referring for a moment to the right end of Fig. 6 the relationship ofthe jamb flap 97 to the cabinet structure 143 in which the hydraulicactuating and the cable and pulley mechanism 98 are concealed is clearlyvisible. Likewise, with reference to Fig. 7, the relationship of thehood flaps 100 to the overhead structure is also clearly visible.

In the foregoing there has been described the structural featuresembodying the construction of the partition, the overhead supportstructure, the drive mechanism, the safety device for permitting themanual disconnecting of the panels from the drive mechanism, the hoodoperating mechanism and the automatic jamb operating mechanism. Somereference has been made to the manner in which the individual mechanismsand units operate without any indication being given as to the sequencein which the various operations or movements might occur. However,before this can be done there are a few additional features ofconstruction to be described.

Referring to Figs. 15 and 16, there is illustrated a mechanism forbreaking the partition 20 so that it can be folded after having beenextended across the room. Upon the drive mechanism 42 being reversed topull the lead panel 21a from left to right as viewed in Fig. l, the lastpanel 21 would have the normal tendency merely to travel in a straightline until it ran into a wall member. To start the panel foldingproperly, pressure must be exerted on the end thereof in the directionof the arrow shown in Fig. 16.

The pressure applying mechanism, generally designated 144 comprises anarm 145 secured, as by welding, to a collar 146. Thecollar 146 iscarried on the upper end of a vertically extending shaft 147. The shaft147 is journalled in a bracket 148 secured to a building structuralmember 65. Beneath the bracket 148 the shaft 147 carries a torsionspring 149, one end of which is afiixed to the shaft 147 and the otherend of which is hooked over the bracket 150 journalling the lower end ofthe shaft 147. Thus, as viewed in Fig. 16, when the arm 145 is forced ina clockwise direction the torsion spring 149 is wound up ready to drivethe arm 145 to the dot and dash position shown in Fig. 16.

An adjustable stop 151 is mounted on an arm 152 of bracket 153 securedto the front face of the bracket 148. This stop limits the swingingmovement of the arm 145 in a counter-clockwise direction.

The arm 145 is shown with an upstanding portion 154 adapted, in the dotand dash position of the arm, to engage a limit switch 155, for a reasonto be hereinafter explained. The limit switch 155 is mounted on,

arm or bracket 156 secured to the building structural member 65 abovethe bracket 1'48. I The pressure or partition breaking device..144 maybe mounted at any convenient height above floor level.

- After the partition 20 has been ibroken by the pressure device 144, itis desirable that the movement of the last panel 21, the panel affectedby the pressure device 144, be controlled or guided to prevent the panelfrom flopping from first one side and then to the other. Accordingly,the present invention includes a control or guide means, generally;designated 157. The control or guide means comprises an arm 158 locatedabove the wall and meeting at the center of the room.

panel 21 and pivotally journalled on a bracket 159. The

bracket 159 may be secured in any convenient manner to the track 24. Thefree end 160 of the arm 158 is provided with a roller 161 adapted tooperate in a slot 162 formed by two spaced horizontal metal strips orthe position by clamps 167 interposed between the strips 163 and 164 ateach end thereof.

The edge 166 of the strip 164 is notched at three places, that is, it isprovided with notches 168, 169 and 170, respectively. The notch 168provides a rest position for the roller 161 when the panel 21 is in theposition shown in Fig. 17. neath the track 24 in parallel relationshipthereto. Upon the panel being moved by the pressure device 144 in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 17, the roller 161 will leave the notch168 and will be urged into the notch 169. As the panel 21 continues tobe moved so that its center of suspension 32 moves toward the bracket159, the roller 161 being hooked in the notch 169 results in the arm 158being swung in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 17. And,as the center of suspension 32 of the panel moves toward the bracket159, the panel swings about its center of suspension in a clockwisedirection, the swinging movement being stabilized by the arm 158.Finally, the relationship shown in Fig. 18 is reached. The swingingmovement of the panel in a clockwise direction had continued until theroller 161 was forced out of the notch 169. The panel then continued tomove relative to the roller 161 until the notch 170 was reached, thespring forcing the roller 161 into this notch. It will be noted fromFig. 18 that the center 32 is as close to the bracket 159 as it can getwithout the panel 21 going beyond the right angle relationship to theposition it had in Fig. 17.

Upon the partition 21 again being unfolded or extended the roller 161will remain in contact with the notch causing the arm 158 to'swing in aclockwise direction, as viewed inFig. 18, as the panel suspension point32 moves away from the bracket 158 and the panel swings in acounter-clockwise direction about its center of suspension. Thiscontinues until the relationship shown in Fig. 17 is again attained.

Referring now briefly to Fig. 6, there is shown at the left end thereofthe structure comprising the sealing jamb, generally designated 171. Thesealing jamb 171 is the structure for receiving the end of the panel 21ashould the partition 20 be of the type that extends from wall to wall ofthe room. It will be understood that the room may be of such a widththat it might be desirable to have two partitions 20 each extending froma side In such an arrangement, each partition would be provided with astarting jamb comparable to that shown at the right end of Fig. 6. Itwill be further understood that these details do not directly affect theoperability of the folding partition. The sealing jamb, 171, may beprovided.

with a buffer 172 mounted by spiing means 173 on the building wall andadapted to be abutted by the end of the partition 21a so as to provide atight seal at this end.

Although the partition panels 21 are adapted to be raised and loweredhydraulically to cause the panels to press tightly against the fioor ofthe room in which the partition is installed, there may be circumstancesorconditions of installation in which it may be desirable to have therubber seal, which is usually provided at the bottom of each panel 21,itself independently movable up and down. In Figs. 20' to 24 inclusive,there are shown two alternative methods of mounting and motivate Thatis, the panel 21 lies bein Fig. 20, by any convenient means.

11 ber seal 174 is shown mounted in a channel seal carrier 175. The sealcarrier 175 is suspended by suitable suspension springs 176 from thepanel 21. It will be noted that the panel has attached to the end wallsthereof brackets .177 adapted to receive the upper ends of the springs176. It will be further noted that the seal carrier 175 is provided withbrackets 178 adapted to receive the lower ends of the springs 175.Suitable mechanism is provided for urging the seal carrier 175 andthereby the seal 174 downwardly relative to the panel 21. The mechanismincludes a cable 179 having its one end 180 tied to a bracket 181fastened to the end wall of the panel 21. From the bracket 1&1 the cablepasses up and over two or more pulleys 182 mounted on brackets 183secured to thetop of the seal carrier 175. The cable 179 then passesdownwardly around and under another pulley 184 mounted on a bracket 135at the left end of the panel 21, as viewed in Fig. 20. The cable 179then passes upwardly along the innerside of the left end of the panel 21where it passes over a pulley 186. The cable 179 then passes alongbeneath the top of the panel 21 to the point where its end 187 isadapted to be connected to a depending projection 18-3 carried by aslide 189. Referring to Fig. 20, it will be readily apparent that if theslide 139 is moved to the right the cable179 will be placed undertension causing it to exert a downward pressure on the pulleys 182. Thedownward pressure exerted on the pulleys 182 will force the rubber sealdownwardly against the upward-urging of the tension springs.

The slide 189 may be moved to the right, as viewed There is illus-.trated a draw bar 19%) having a projection 191 thereon. Referring toFig. 21, the draw bar with its downwardly depending projection 191 isnormally in the position shown in dotted outline. Upon all or" thepanels 21 having reached their extended position across the room, thedraw bar 19% will be given a slight turn in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 21, so that the projection 191 thereon willbe in alignment with the. upstanding projection 192 on top of the slide189. On the draw bar 199 being moved to the right byany suitable ifmeans, the'projections 191 and 192 will abut each other causing theslide 189 to be moved to the right and will result in the seal 174"beingpressed against thefloor. It 7 will be understood that thestructure shown in Fig. 20 will be duplicated for each panel 21.

In Figs. 23 and 24 there is illustrateda mechanisnr comprising ahydraulic cylinder adapted to move the seal carrier 175 and the rubberseal 174 carried thereby in a downward direction relative to the panel21. As in the previously described enib'odirnent,'the seal carrier issuspended from the bottom of the panel 21a by .sus-

pension'spring's 193, the panel being provided with a convenient ofsuitable recess .194 for receiving the suspension springs and'the otherparts of the mechanism for raising and lowering the seals. Also mountedin a recess 194 above the seal carrier 175 is a double ended hydrauliccylinder 195. The cylinder 195 is provided withtwo pistons 196 and twopiston rods 197 extending in opposite direction. ,Since the piston rodsare of sub-' stantial length, suitable support structures 198 may beprovided to support the free ends of the piston rods. The free end ofeach piston rod. 198 abuts one arm of a bell crank lever 199 pivotallymounted on a bracket 200 carried by the upper side of the seal carrier175. Eachbell crank lever 199 is provided with an arm 201 which extendsin a substantially horizontal direction, the

. arm 201 acting more in the nature of a cam. Referring Upon thehydraulic pressure in the cylinder being released the spring willrestore the seal carriers to their uppermost position; also restoringtheparts of the hy draulic actuating mechanism to their normalinoperative position.

manner in which the individual mechanisms and units operate and alsofurther understanding as to the sequence in which the various operationsor movements might occur may best be obtained after first explainingFigs. 25 and 26 which, respectively, schematically illustrate thehydraulic and electrical circuits involved in the present invention.

Referring first to Fig. 25, a pump 2112 adapted to be driven by anelectric motor 203 (see Fig. 1) is illustrated. The pump 262 is adaptedto draw fluid from a sump, reservoir or tank 2&4. The pump 202discharges into a line 2115 having a check valve 2% therein. Beyond thecheck valve 206, the line 205 splits into two branches 207 and 203,respectively. The branch 297 in turn splits into two additional branches2419 and 210, respectively.

The branch or line 2119 leads to the hydraulic cylinder 99 whichoperates the automatic hood and jamb folding mechanisms. The line orbranch 2118, of the main line 2il5 leads to a relief valve 211. Therelief valve is provided with a call 212 urged into sealing contact'withits seal 213 by a spring 214. It will be noted that fluid flowingthrough line 209 is directed, when the ball 212 is. in contact with itsseat 213, to a line 215 leading to a second relief valve 216. In therelief valve 211, the fluid under pressure from line 208 tends to raisethe ball 212; whereas, in relief valve 216 the fluid under pressure fromline 215, which line is actually a conduit of line 2G8, tends to urgethe ball 212 into seating engagernent, as will be further explained. Therelief valve 211 is connected above its ball 213 by a line 217 to a line218 having'branches 219 leading to each of the panel 21 hydraulicactuating'cylinders 34. The relief valve 216 has a line 224 leading frombeneath its ball 212 to the line 218.

The branch line 211 shown at the upper portion of Fig. 25", leads to arelease valve 221. The release valve 221 is of similar construction tothe relief valves that is, it has a ball 212 adapted to seat against aconical seat 213 and spring urged into seating engagement by a spring214. The line 216 leads into the spring side ofthe ball. The ball 213 ofthe release valve 221 may be dislodged from its seat by a rod 222 whichmay be pushed in ball unseating direction by a bell crank lever 233actuated by a solenoid 224, as will be more fully-explained. The releasevalve 221 has a line 225 leading therefrom to the sump or tank 204. r

In operation, the fluid under pressure from the pump 202 passes throughthe line 295, through the check valve 206 and into the lines 267 and208. At this moment the fluid in the line 208 does not have enoughpressure to'force open the relief valve 211. Therefore, all of the fluidwill flow through the line 2437 to the two branches 209 and 215 Thefluid through the branch 210 is stopped because it urges the ball 212 ofthe relief valve 221 into tighter seating engagement with its seat 213.Therefore, the fluid will flow through the line 259 into the hydrauliccylinder 99 which operates the automatic hood and jamb foldingmechanisms. It will be recalled .thatthe hoods and jamb arehydraulically forced into 208. The pressure buildup in line 208 will besuflicient to cause the ball 212 of the relief valve 211 to lift fromits seat thereby permitting fluid to flow from the line 208 through therelief valve 211 into the line 217, and

to unseat the ball 212 from the seat 213 of the release valve 221. Thepressure in the hydraulic cylinder 99 will then drop permitting thesprings which are part of the hood and jamb operating mechanism toretract the piston rod 103 forcing the fluid under pressure from thecylinder 99 back through line 209 and then through line 210 past theball 212 into the line 225 leading to the tank 204. Meanwhile, thespring pressure of the spring 214 in the relief valve 211 will be strongenough to cause the ball 212 to seat against its seat 213 therebyblocking any return flow of fluid through the line 217. However, theline 220 is a bypass for the line 217 under this condition and as thesprings 40 in the various panels 21 cause retraction or upward movementof the panels 21 the fluid beneath the pistons 38 in the cylinders 34will be forced back through the lines or branches 219 into the line 218and then through line 220 through the valve 216, the ball 212 of thevalve 216 being lifted off its seat by the pressure of the fluid. Thefluid being discharged from the cylinders 34 will then flow through theline 215 through the relief valve 211 into the line 208 leadingtherefrom and then through line'207 and into branch 210 from where itwill find its way back to the tank 204 through the release valve 221.

Provisions may be made to operate the bell crank lever 233 by a manualpull cord in case of a power failure rendering the solenoid 224inoperative.

It will be noted that the line 218 was indicated as having a valve 226therein, the valve designation being the letters PS within a circle. ThePS is a designation for a pressure switch. It will be understood thatwhen thepartition is extended across a room, the hydraulic pressure inthe cylinders 34 as well as the hydraulic pressure in the cylinder 99 isacting to maintain the panels 21 in their down position and to maintaina hood and jambed in their closed positions, respectively. Pressurehaving been applied to the hydraulic system by the pump 202, the checkvalve 206 will maintain the fluid in the system under pressure andprevent the fluid from backing up into the pump. Under ideal conditions,the pressure would be maintained at the cut-off point until the releasevalve 221 was actuated to permit the fluid in the system to dischargeback into the reservoir or tank 204. At the completion of the actuationof the hoods and jamb by the hydraulic cylinders 99 and the actuation ofthe panels by the cylinders 34, and upon pressure in the system reachingthe predetermined cut-off,

point, the pressure switch 226 will automatically be actuated to'cut-ofi the electriecurrent to the pump motor 203. I

As long as the partition is in its extended position, it is desirablethat the pressure in the system be maintained above a limit at which thepanels would begin to rise or the hoods and jamb would start to moveaway from the panels. The pressure switch 226 thus may be used tocompensate for any seepage that might occur in the hydraulic cylinders34 and 99. Should the pressure in thehydraulic cylinders 34 drop becauseof seepage, the pressure switch 226would respond by closing the circuitleading to the electric motor 203 of the pump 204, thereby causing thepump motor to start up and to pump the pressure in the system back up tothe predetermined cut-off point. Likewise, if seepage in the hydrauliccylinde'r'99 should cause a drop in the fluid pressure of this part ofthe circuit, this pressure drop would be reflected at the relief valve216. The pressure in the conduit 218 leading to the hydraulic cylinders34 would be greater than the pressure on the top side of the ball 212 ofthe relief valve 216 causing the ball 212 to rise off its seat andthereby causing a drop in pressure in the conduit 218. In other words,the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 34 side of the system wouldbecome equal to the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 99 side of thesystem. The drop in pressure in the conduit 218 would be reflected atthe pressure switch 226 thereby permitting this switch to close causingthe pump motor to restart.

Referring now to Fig. 26, the schematic electric circuit involved in thepresent invention is illustrated. As illustrated the electrical circuitcomprises a one hundred and ten volt single phase circuit feeding powerinto lines 227 and 228. The electrical circuit includes a number ofrelays, micro switches, a key operated switch, a thermo-reset switch, apressure switch and limit switches. All of the foregoing relays andswitches utilize 24 volt current, which is obtained from a transformerindicated at 229. Movement of the partition 20 is actuated by operationof a key switch 230 which has to be held in the in or out" position tocause movement of the partition. The purpose of this is to keep theoperator from leaving while the partition is in motion.

To cause movement of the partition in the out direction, that is, from afolded position to an extended position across the room, the key must beturned so that a circuit is closed through the button 232 of the keyoperated switch 230. The actuation of the key operated switch 230 causesthe switch contact 231 to engage the button 232 leading to the line 233.The line 233 leads to the input terminal of the coil of a control relaydesignated 234. The output side of the coil of the control relay 234 isconnected to line 235 which leads to a terminal 236 of a limit switch237. When the partition panels are in folded position, the limit switch237 is closed, as shown in solid line in Fig. 26, thus providing acircuit through lines 238 and 239 to the input side of the transformer229. The control relay coil 234 will thus be energized causing normallyopen control relay elements 234a and 234b to close and normally closedrelay elements 2340 and 234d to open, the relay 234 being a double throwunit.

To permit the circuit to be followed, it will be assumed that powerline227 is the input line. Thus, current will flow through line 227, line240, relay element 234a, and to line 241. From line 241 the currentsplits into two branches formed by lines 242 and 243. From line 242 thecurrent travels through line 244, through normally closed relay 267d toline 245. Lines 243 and 245 each lead to input terminals of the motor69. It will be understood that the motor 69 is a split-phase motorhaving starting and running windings. Thus, lines 243 and245 tie intothe leads to the running and starting windings, respectively. In thecondition as has just been described, lines 246 and 247 represent linesconnected to the output terminals of the motor 69. The current flow fromline 246 is through line 248, normally closed relay 2670, line 249,.into line 250. The output current through line 247 ties into line 250directly. Line 250 feeds into line 251 including the relay 234b which isnow in closed condition due to the energization of the control relaycoil 234. Line 251 feeds into line 252 which is connected to one side ofa thermo-reset relay 253, the output side of the thermo-reset relay 253being tied into power line 228. It should be noted that although controlrelays 234a and 234d are shown as normally being closed, when the keyactuated switch 230 has been turned so as to close the circuit throughthe button 232 thereby energizing the control relay 234, the controlrelay elements 234a and 234d are open and no current can flow throughthe branches in which they are positioned.

Upon the partition 20 reaching its fully extended position the limitswitch 237 is operated so as to open the same, that is, causing the armthereof to move from solid line position to the dot and dash position,thereby causing the arm to move ofi the button 236 and to engage thebutton 263. This stops the operation of the motor 69, because upon thecircuit through the button 236 being broken the control relay 234 isde-energized causing the control relay elements 234a and 234b to openthereby isolating the motor from the input and output sides of the powersource. However, it will be noted that the transformer line 264 has thetwo branches 254 and 255 leading therefrom. The branch 254 leads to thekey actuated switch 230.

The branch 255 leads to the input terminal of a control relay 256 whichwhen energized closes normally open contacts 256a and 2561; therebycausing operation of pump motor 203. The line 255 has in seriestherewitha normally closed switch 257 which is the switch operated bythe pressure device 226 shown in the hydraulic circuit'diagram. As wasstated, the switch 257 remains closed until the pressure in the systembuilds up to a pre-determined cut-off point at which point the switch isforced open to thereby deenergize the control relay 256, causing the comtacts 256a and 256b to open and causing motor 203 to stop. Line 258connected to the output side of control relay 256 contains normallyclosed relay contacts 259a related to control relay 259, having afunction to be hereinafter explained. j

r In close proximity to control relay 259 is control relay 269 whichwhen energized closes normally open contacts 266%: thereby energizingsolenoid'224, the solenoid which controls the action of the releasevalve 221 of the hydraulic circuit. The line 258 containing the contactrelays 259a is joined with lines 261 and 262." The line 261 contains theaforementioned control relay 259. The line 262 leads to the terminal 263of the limit switch 237.

Thus, upon the extension of the partition panels 21' completely acrossthe room, the limit switch 237 arm will be :moved from contact 236 tocontact 263, causing the motor 69 to stop and pump motor 203 tostart'up. Pump motor 203 will cause pump 204 to pump fluid into the'hydraulic system until the pressure switch 257 is forced open.

Should'the pressure in the hydraulic system drop, the switch 257 willclose, as has been explained, and the pump 203 will again start todeliver pressure.

The circuit for controlling the movement of the partition from on orextended condition to in or'folded condition is slightly morecomplicated in that it includes additional limit switches, for reasonswhich will become apparent. To cause the partition to move in, that is,to fold, the operator must turn the key switch to make contact betweenthe contact 231 and switch contact 265 thus closing a circuit betweenline 254 and line 266, the latter leading to the input terminal ofcontrol relay coil 267. The outputterminal of the control relay 267 ishooked up to line 268 which isattached to one terminal of normallyclosed limit switch 269; In series with limit switch 269 are twoadditional limit switches, the normally open limit switches 155 and 270.Limit switch 155 has been mentioned before, it being shown in Figs. 15and 16. The line 271 containing the limit switches 155 and 274) ties inwith line 239 leading to the transformer 229.

Thus, in order for the control relay 267 to be energized the key switch230 contact 231 must be in contact with button 265 and the limitswitches 155 and 270 must be closed. Turning the key switch 230 to closecontact 231 with. contact 265 closes a circuit through the control relay26% causing the solenoid 224 to be energized thereby opening releasevalve 221 and dumping the pressure in the hydraulic system. The releaseof the pressure'in cylinders 34 will cause the partition panels 21 to bespring lifted as has been explained. Release of pressure in the cylinder99 will permit the hood flaps 100 to raise by' spring action and thejamb panel 97 to swing open,.again by spring action. Upon the jarnbopening the limit willdrive the arm 145 in a direction to break the lastpanel 21. Upon the arm portion 154 engaging the limit switch 155, thisswitch will close. The control relay 267 is now part of a closed circuitand will be energized causing its contacts 267a and 267b to close andits contacts 267c and 267d to open.

In the motor'69 circuit the condition now exists that current will flowthrough'line 227 to line 272. In line 272 the current flows through nowclosed contacts 267a to line 249. From line 249 the current splits twoways. One branch is through line 247. The other branch is through line250, to line 273 having normally closed contacts 234d in seriestherewith and then to line 245 to the motor. a V 7 On the output side ofthe motor current flows'out through lines 243 and 246. From line 246 thecurrent flows through line 274 having normally closed contacts 2340 inseries therewith, line 274 joining line 241 which makes a juncture withline 242. Line 243 also joins with line 242 and the current flowsthrough now closed contact relays 267b through line 275 to a juncturewith line 252 and on out through line 228. a

The movement of. the partition in the in or folded direction continuesuntil the normally closed limit switch 269 is tripped and heldopen thuscutting the current to the cable drive unit motor 69. I It will beunderstood that the direction'of rotation of the motor 69 is controlledby the actuation of the switch With switch 230 closed at contact 232,input cur- 230; rent to the motor was through leads 243 and 245 andoutput flow was through leads 246 and 247. With switch 230 closed at265, input current to the motor is through leads 247 and 245 and outputflow through leads 246 and 243. Thus, in effect leads 243 and 247 havebeen reversed. It will be readily understood'that the reversal of asplit-phase motor is easily accomplished by reversing one set of leads,preferably the leads to the starter winding. Preferably, leads 243 and247 are the leads to the starter winding of the motor 69. g 7 A briefresume of the operation sequence of the fold able partition embodied inthe present invention is as follows: The operation involved in acomplete cycle of the partition begins with the-turning, of the key inthekey f operated switch 230 to the out direction, it being as-" sumedthat the partition 20 is in a folded condition when it is desired toextend the partition across the room, Upon the key being turned and heldtoward the out position,.the cable drive unit 42 will drive thepartition in an outward or extended direction until the lead panel atthe top, as has been explained. Afterthe .jarnb'97;

and hood 100 have completed their operations, the pressure buildupin thehydraulic system causes the relief, valve 211 to-open causing thehydraulic pressure to shift to the cylinders 34 within thepartitionpanels. The partition is then pressed downwardly to the floor..As has been explained, the partitions are maintained in tight en,-

, gagement with the floor through the medium'of the res-1 sure switch226. I a

The retraction ofthe partition begins with the turning of the key in thekey operated switch to the in posi tion. The first thing'which occursafterthe turning .of the key to the in position is the energization ofthe solenoid 224 attached to the hydraulic system, the sole;

noid causing the pressure release valve 221 to open thereby releasingthe pressure in the hydraulic system. Upon the hydraulic pressure beingreleased, the doors will be spring raised to their up position. Also,the hood and jamb mechanism are restored to the up and open conditionthrough the medium of the springs 120 and 142 which form part of theirmechanism. The innermost panel 21 will be broken by the action of thespring loaded arm 145. As soon as the arm reaches a predeterminedposition as determined by the adjustable stop 151, the limit switch 155will be closed and the circuit will be completed energizing the cabledrive unit motor 69 causing the partition 20 to be moved by the cableunit 42 in a retracted or folding direction. When the partition iscompletely folded, as determined by the limit switch 269, the cycle iscompleted.

I claim:

1. In a foldable partition installation, an overhead guideway, a seriesof carriage devices movable along said guideway, a series of hingedlyconnected partition panels, means swivelly suspending at least the lead,the last and selected intermediate panels from respective ones of saidcarriage devices, and power operated means for moving said carriagedevices and thereby said panels between folded and extended positions,said power operated means driving an independent carriage device,coupling means carried by said independent carriage device coupling thesame to the lead panel carriage device, and means operable to uncouplesaid coupling means from said lead panel carriage device to permitmanual movement of said panels along said overhead guidewayindependently of any part of said power operated means.

2. In a foldable partition installation, an overhead guideway, a seriesof cariage devices movable along said guideway, a series of hingedlyconnected partition panels, means swivelly suspending at least the lead,the last and selected intermediate panels from said carriage devices,and power operated means comprising a cable means for moving saidcarriage devices and thereby said panels between folded and extendedpositions, said cable means driving an independent carriage device ahead.of the lead panel carriage device, coupling means carried by saidindependent carriage device coupling the same to said lead panelcarriage device from which said first panel is suspended, and manuallyoperable means carried by said lead panel for uncoupling said lead panelcarriage device from said independent carriage device to permit manualmovement of said panels between extended and folded positionsindependently of said cable means.

3. In a foldable partition installation, an overhead guideway, a seriesof carriage devices, a series of hingedly connected partition panels,suspension means suspending at least the first, the last and alternateintermediate panels from said carriage devices, a cable drive mechanismfor moving said carriage devices and thereby said panels be tween foldedand extended positions, said suspension means including meansresiliently supporting said panels for movement in an up and downdirection relative to said guideway, hydraulic means adapted to urge andmaintain said panels downwardly, and control means shifting motivationfrom said cable drive mechanism to said hydraulic means upon saidpartition reaching extended position, said control means includingpressure responsive means adapted to stop motivation of said hydraulicmeans upon said panels meeting resistance to further downward movement.

4. In a foldable partition installation, an overhead guideway, a seriesof carriage devices, a series of hingedly connected partition panels,suspension means suspending at least the first, the last and alternateintermediate panels from said carriage devices, a cable drive mechanismfor moving said carriage devices and thereby said panels between foldedand extended positions, said suspension means including meansresiliently supporting said panels for movement in an up and downdirection relative to said guideway, hydraulic means adapted to urge andmaintainsaid panels downwardly, and control means shifting motivationfrom said cable drive mechanism to said hydraulic means upon saidpartition reaching extended position, said control means includingpressure responsive means adapted to stop motivation of said hydraulicmeans upon said panels meeting resistance to further downward movement,said pressure responsive means being efiective to maintain the pressureexerted by the hydraulic means above a pre-determined point to preventundesired upward movement of the partition.

5. In a folding partition, a series of partition panels, suspensionmeans supporting at least each alternate panel directly from a carriagedevice movable along an overhead guideway, said suspension meanscomprising shaft means journalled in said carriage device for swivellingmovement about a vertical axis, each alternate panel having hydrauliccylinder means secured therein, piston means operative within saidcylinder means, said shaft means having a portion thereof supportingsaid piston means, resilient means interposed between said piston meansand cylinder means effective to support said panel relative to theoverhead guideway, and a source of fluid under pressure for moving saidcylinder means and thereby said panel relative to said piston means in adownward direction against the resistance of said resilient means.

6. In a folding partition, a series of partition panels, suspensionmeans suspending at least each alternate panel directly from a carriagedevice movable along an overhead guideway, said suspension meanscomprising shaft means journalled in said carriage device for swivellingmovement about a vertical axis, said shaft means having a portionthereof projecting within said panel, hydraulic cylinder means fixedwithin said panel surrounding said shaft means portion, piston meanscarried by said portion, resilient means interposed between said pistonmeans and said cylinder means effective to yieldably support said panelin raised position relative to the overhead guideway, and a source ofhydraulic fluid for moving said cylinder means relative to the pistonmeans contained therein whereby said panel will be moved downwardlyrelative to said overhead guideway against the resistance of saidresilient member.

7. In a foldable partition installation having a series ofinterconnected partition panels, an overhead guideway, a series ofcarriage means including a suspension means suspending at leastalternate ones of said panels therefrom for movement therewith alongsaid guideway, a cable means, means connecting said cable means to atleast one of said carriage means, and cable drive means comprising amotor driven gear and at least a pair of idler gears in mesh therewith,said idler gears being rotatably journalled on a floating cage means,said cable means passing around and between said gears in such a mannerthat increased tension on said cable will pull said gears in tightermesh thereby increasing the gripping pressure on the cables at thepoints it passes t-herebetween, and torsion bar means limiting said cagemeans to movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the axis ofrotation of said driven gear.

8. A cable drive means comprising, in combination, a cable, a motordriven gear, at least a pair of idler gears in mesh with said drivengear, a floating cage means rotatably journalling said idler gears inparallel spaced relationship, said cable passing around and between saidgears in such a manner that increased tension on said cable will pullsaid gears in tighter mesh thereby increasing the gripping pressure onsaid cable at the points it passes therebetween, and means restrictingsaid cage means to movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the axisof rotation of said driven gear.

9. In a folding partition, the combination of a series of movablepartition panels, an overhead slotted guideway for guiding said panelsduring movement from a folding zone to an extended position, a pair ofhood members overlying said folding z one, shaft means swingablymOunting said hood members for movement toward and from raised andlowered positions, cable and pulley means interconnected with said shaftmeans, biasing means acting on said cable means normally urging saidhood members to raised position, and hydraulic means adapted to act onsaid cable means to overcome said biasing means and urge said hoodmembers downwardly into engagement with the last partition panelsremaining in the folding zone after the partition is fully extended,said hood members in their lowered position forming an extension of saidguideway and thereby being effective to align said last panels withinsaid guideway slot.

10. In a folding partition, the combination of a series of partitionpanels movable from a folding zone to an extended position, the last ofsaid panels when said partition is in extended position being adapted toengage a fixed vertical jamb portion at one side thereof, meanspivotally mounting a swingable vertical jamb member in juxtaposiion tothe other side of said last panel, means normally urging said swingablevertical jamb member in an open direction, and hydraulically actuated.means adapted to swing said swingable vertical jamb member intoengagement with said panel to maintain thelatter in tight engagementwith said fixed vertical jamb portion.

11. In a folding partition, the combination of a series of partitionpanels movable from a folding zone to an extended position, the last ofsaid panels when said partition is in extended position being adapted toengage a fixed vertical jamb portion at one side thereof, meanspivotally mounting a swingable vertical jamb member in juxtaposition tothe other side of said last panel, resilient means normally urging saidswingable vertical jamb member in an open direction, and hydraulicallyactuated cable means adapted to swing said swingable vertical jamb por-7 tion into engagement with said panel to maintain the latter in tightengagement with said fixed vertical jamb portion. V

12. In a folding partition, the combination of a series of movablepartition panels, an overhead slotted guide way for guiding said panelsduring movement from a folding zone to an extended position, a pair'ofhood members overlying said folding zone, shaft means swingably mountingsaid hood members for swinging movement about a horizontal axis towardand from a raised or lowered position, said hood'members when in loweredposition forming an extension of said guideway, said folding zone at oneend thereof having a fixed vertical jamb portion, the last partitionpanel when said partition is in extended position being adapted toengage said fixed vertical jamb portion, means pivotally mounting aswing able vertical jamb member in opposing relation to said,

fixed vertical jamb portion, independent cable meansoperativelyconnected to said hood members and to said swingable verticaljamb member, biasing means normally urging said hood members andswingable vertical jamb mem ber toward raised and open position,respectively, and a common hydraulic means effective to operatebothcable means to forceably lower said hood members and to close saidswingable vertical jamb member.

13. in a folding partition havin a series of swivelly suspendedpartition panels selectively movable from a folding Zone into extendedposition and back to said foldingzone, the last of said panels when saidpartition is in extended position being adapted to be forceably urgedinto alignment with the panels outwardly thereof, the combination,comprising an arm member, shaft means swingably mounting said armrnemberat the inner end of said folding zone, torsion' means concentricwith said' shaft means normally urging said arm member in a first direction, said arm member being forceably moved to and held in the oppositedirection against the resistance of said torsion means upon said lastpanel beingforceably aligned with said panels outwardly thereof, wherebyupon release of the aligning force said arm member will forceably ini-2G tiate swinging movement of said last panel toward folded condition.

14. In a folding partition having .a series of swivelly suspendedpartition panels selectively movable from a folding zone into extendedposition and back to said folding zone, the last of said panels whensaid partition is in extended position being adapted to be forceablyurged into alignment with the panels outwardly thereof, the combination,comprising a horizontal armmember, vertical means swingably mountingsaid arm member at the. inner end of said folding zone, torsion meansconcentric with said shaft means normally urging said arm member in afirst direction, said arm member being forceably moved to and held inthe opposite direction against the resistance of said torsion means uponsaid last panel being forceably aligned with said panels outwardlythereof, whereby upon release of the aligning force ,said arm memberwill forceably initiate swinging movement of said last panel towardfolded condition, and overhead guide eans in engagement with said lastpanel to guide the same into proper position in said folding zone aftercompletion of said arm member influenced swinging movement and as saidpanels are retracted to said folding zone. a

15. A cable drive means comprising, in combination, a support structure,a power shaft rotatably journalled in said support structure, a drivegear member mounted on said power shaft, said drive gear member having acable receiving groove thereon, a pair of idler gear members alsohavingcablereceiving grooves thereon, a floating cage member rotatablyjournalling said idler gear members, torsion means positioning said cagemember on said support structure with the teeth of the idler gearmembers thereon in mesh with the'teeth of said drive gear member, andcable means passing first around an idler gear member to and around saiddrive gear member and then to and around the other idler gear memberwhereby increased load on said cable means will tighten the frictionalengagement between the surfaces of said gear member grooves and'cablemeans.

16. In a folding partition, a series'of partition panels, suspensionmeans supporting selected panels directly from carriage devices movablealong anoverhead guideway, said suspension means comprising shaft meansjournalled in said carriage devices for swivelling movement about avertical axis, each supported panel having hydraulic cylinder meansfixedly secured'therein, said shaft means having the piston means ofsaid hydraulic cylinder means supported thereon, biasingmeans actingbetween said piston means and cylinder means efiective to support saidpanel relative to the overhead guideway, and a source of fluid underpressure for moving said panel relative to said piston means in adownward direction against the resistance coupling means coupling saidpower operated means to the lead panel carriage device, means supportingsaid coupling means on said overhead guideway for movement with saidlead panel carriage device when coupled thereto, and means operable touncouple said coupling means from 'said lead panel carriage device topermit manual movement of said panels along said overhead guideway.

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